“Hello. My name is Kai. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Your turn.” He gestures with a hand for me to speak.
“You’re the queen’s son,” I say.
“Is that a statement or a question?” He smirks darkly, a singular dimple appearing on his cheek.
“Neither. It was an observation.”
“Really? And have you made any other observations tonight?” He takes a step closer, and I fight the urge to inhale his scent.
“Perhaps how all eyes are on you this evening when they should be on me. It’smyparty, after all,” he says with a teasing whimper in his voice.
“I had not noticed that.”
“I did. My eyes were among the admirers.”
“Your eyes tell me a lot, actually.”
A fire ignites in those sea-colored orbs as his voice lowers. “And what do they say?”
“That you are highly presumptuous.” He bites his lower lip as he stares at mine unabashedly. “And pompous,” I add.
He leans back, chuckling. “Maybe I, too, am merely observant.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. In fact, I observed you staring at me inside. I observed you walking out onto this patio. I’m observing the very look on your face right now.”
“We’ve just met, and you claim to be able to interpret my facial expressions? My, my, you must be a mind reader.”
“No, I’m just an expert on body language.” His gaze travels down my entire length and back up. I can feel my body heat under his stare. He reaches out tentatively, with enough slowness that I can move out of reach if I want to.
I don’t want to.
His fingers tilt my chin up, angling my face to his. Time moves a touch slower.
“Do you really believe I’m going to kiss you right now?” I whisper against his lips.
“I’m just testing your restraint,” he whispers back, a secret smile in his voice. “You’re doing exceptionally well. Most females in your position would have dropped their panties to the floor by now.”
My hand shoots up to grip him by the face, chasing the lusty, glazed look from his eyes and replacing it with pure shock.
“I’m not likeanyof the females you know. I’m awoman.” I release his face only to bring my palm across his cheek. The slap makes a satisfying sound, though I know I didn’t hit him hard enough to actually hurt. The shock on his face as he rubs the spot I struck melts into admiration, then respect, and then circles back to lust. “You’ll ask before you touch me next time.”
He bites his lip to stifle his growing smirk.
A deep sense of satisfaction washes over me as I fight my own smile and start toward the door.
“I didn’t get a name,” he calls after me, his voice lighter. Amused.
“You didn’t earn it,” I shout back, facing the party. I gather my skirts in my hands when I see Zadyn on the other side of the glass door, his face pale. He pulls the door open for me.
“What did he want?” he asks tightly.
“A kiss, most likely.” I shrug.
“Of course,” Zadyn says. “You shouldn’t be alone with him.”
“I’m not even going to attempt to explain to you how fundamentally problematic that statement is.”
